The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-05-07
TIE A1A1DEN,s soLACE,
a Brief Chapter OF Interesting Facts Con.
corning Spruce Gum. '5a.

corning Spruce Gum. '=63.s
BANGOR, May 5.--Thc seasons logging
operations on the Penobscot are over now !;
the ax swingcrs are out Of the woods anG
the bar-rooms of Bangor have rcaped theii
usual harvest, while the supply of spruce
gum is literally rcplcnishcd, and every
school girl in town can chew to her hearts
content.
A lump of clear, genuine spruce gum, fresl,
and fragrant from its native forest. Is not tc
be dcspised MS Il chewing substance, and j.
everybody could get the real article, instead
of cheap, adulteratcd stuff, the army OF
chewcrs would be vastly augmented. The
natural gum is said by physicians to be ben
e.icial to the teeth, and it is certainly great
improvement OH tobacco. The woodsnen
bring ont considerable quantities of gum,
sometimes packed in pretty miniature barrels,
which they white and carve from blocks OF
white pine or cedar during the idle hours BY
the camp fire, as presents for their friends,
but there are people who make business OF
gathering gum, and in certain sections of the
spruce country it phys we'll
Most of tho spruce gum handled BY the
dealers comes from Canada and Northern
Maine, while Vermont and New Hampshire
contribute n moderate quantity to the total
yield. The best gum Comes from no partic,,-
kr section, but, always from tho biggest
spruce trees, andit begins to run In july or
August, when, in these high ATTITUDES, the
sun becomes so hot rs to crack the burk. On
the limbs. in tho crotchcs, and even in the
trunk Of the spruce the molten gum forms
during the heat of summer in NIL sorts of fam
tastic shapes, and when cold weather sets in
II becomes hard. The first year after its run
the gum is white and pitchy, then it begins
to turn amber and rcd, ind the second year
Il is fit to ''pick" for the market, although II
Is better If allowed to remain on the trees I'M
Ill the third year. After the third season
the gum remains in the same state for several
years. and then begins TO turn DID," as the
pickers say, and the consumer complains
TINT 1t "chews hard. and crumblcs IN. A
little more age makes it dark-colored and
bitter, md then its value is gone e .lf
i'll Canada much Of the gum Is picked
IN autumn, beginning MS early rs October,
but there, rs in Maine, the best time for The
work is during the deep SHOWS of The winter,
when snOwshocs arc used, or In the early
spring, when q man can travel along ut Il
lively rate on the heavy crust above tho I'M.
acrbrllsh. The pickers are provided with
long poles, on the end of which is fastened d
sharp chiscl, and underneath that II Gun to
receive the gum MS it is Clipped off. The Gun
holds from Il pint to quart, and when full
It Is cmptied into n long bag which The
packer carries slung to his back like Il khan.
sack. These gum harvcstcrs erccts huts' In
the woods when far distant from n settle
mcnt or logging camp, and stay from two
days to week on the trip. When they have
secured rs much as they can "'tote' they
come out, and then the women and children
have tho tedious job of scraping each and
every lump free from. bark and moss. The
shops looks very much different from the
brown nuggets in tho pickcris bug, although
occasionally a clear, shiny piece Is found on
the limb OF large tree. " ...ga I.,5 ,.l 55y
u. is the cleaning Of the gum that makes
tirstclass article expensive. An ordinary
picker usually earns fnir days wages. nj
though IN localities that have not been en-
plorcd he sometimes STRIKES it rich" have
known man to gather $50 worth Of gum In
one day. 7s.E.. $50 20 - -. - ~
There are two or three firms in Maine
which buy large quantities of gum from
lum.9ermen and pickcrs for the purpose Of
refining it, rs they say. But, as Il general
rule, the refining consists of adulteration
with rosin. They throw the rum into
n big vat, bark. moss and ali, md hn; iii
It TO about the q consistency of mo.
lasscs, skimming oil the impurities rs they
rise to the surface. Then, il the p,lr,Dsr M.
to'adulteratc, some lard or grease md Il lot Of
rosin is thrown in, with sometimes n little
sugar, The mixture is stirred until thick
md then poured out OH slab, where. while
1t is yet hot, it is rolled out in sheet about
a quarter Of an inch thick, and afterwari cut
witt Il steel die into pieces hllf nm inch wide
and thrcc-quartcrs Of an inch long. These
piece are wrapped incolored tissue paper and
packed in, wooden boxcs-two hundred
pieces 70 box: This Is q so-callctl ''patcnt"
gum. Tons Of 1t are sold south and west Of
forest It is drug in the markct.-8ao York